As the nation’s first land grant institution, it’s no surprise that Michigan State University has a diverse range of food options available to its students – and with 51,3126 of them, there are many mouths to feed! We had the opportunity to connect with two huge local food advocates in the Lansing area about how students can eat more fresh food and get involved in the local food community. Meet Darby Anderson, Manager of the Student Organic Farm, and Jenny Wagemann, Manager of Allen Neighborhood Center’s Allen Farmers Market.
Jenny, could you tell us how students can get involved or purchase from Allen Farmers Market?
Other than volunteering and interning, students can walk to the market together and earn money on their way! We PAY people to walk to the market to encourage the full circle of wellness and to keep onsite parking available for those who need it. For every mile walked to the market on Wednesdays, we pay $2 in market dollars (cap at $5 per market) that students are welcome to spend that day or save for down the road.
Also, at the Market Bank, students are welcome to swipe their debit/credit or SNAP/EBT card in exchange for market tokens to be spent with vendors. For students with an EBT card, we match up to $20 in Double Up Food Bucks to be spent on produce.
Students can also get involved by applying to be one of the entertainers. They can visit our website and apply online!
What is the value of students getting off campus to seek local produce?
If a student can’t recall eating a strawberry from a local farmer versus the strawberries in a plastic container at the grocery store, then they need to know that they’re missing out on taste! And they can try fresh produce even if they’re on a budget. We need to demolish this thought that eating locally is more expensive. It’s not. Not only is the food similar in price, but it tastes better, lasts longer, and eating local produce is more nutrient-dense to fuel their minds and bodies with less, if any, chemicals.
The value of getting students off campus is that it’s great to see outside of the campus bubble – to see what the Capital of Michigan looks and feels like, what kinds of people populate the city, and obtain a grander view of their surrounding area. Also, the Allen Farmers Market offers free and live entertainment every week! So, students can join for dinner (so many different options inspired by regions around the world), a show, community vibes, and grocery shopping!
The students that do attend our market keep coming back for the good vibes as much as the food.
Jenny Wagemann, Manager of Allen Farmers Market
The Allen Farmers Market season begins on May 15 and runs through October 30. It takes place in the parking lot under the mural on the corner of Shepard and E Kalamazoo streets in addition to the Greatroom (1629 E Kalamazoo).
You can find information about what to expect each week at the market using this link and connect with them on Instagram or Facebook.
Darby, where can students go to eat MSU Student Organic Farm produce? And what’s the benefit of eating SOF-grown produce?
We are incredibly excited about a recent gift that has helped our produce be more accessible to MSU students through the Student CSA Shares and produce donations from partners like the MSU Student Parent Resource Center. And we’re proud to provide produce grown by students, for students!
Here are some of the places students can purchase our produce:
CSA
- 15-week Summer CSA (May 16 – August 22)
- 5-week Peak Season CSA (July 25 – August 22)
- We offer Full Shares, Half Shares, and Student Shares (half share quantity at ~50% discount)
- One-time Monthly produce boxes Sept – March
- We also offer a weekly on-farm Farm Stand during CSA distribution (Thursdays from 4-6:30 from May 16 – August 22)
Dining Halls
- We sell weekly to all the dining halls – Brody Square is full of our produce!
- We’re in the process of obtaining clearer signage to identify our offerings and have some projects coming up that will highlight the farm even more in the dining halls.
Check out more local farms and food businesses in the Lansing area by visiting our online Find Local Food and Farms Directory! And students, get shopping!
Further Reading:
- Growing Knowledge: Michigan State University Student Organic Farm
- A Commitment to the Community: Allen Neighborhood Center
- Local Foodie Tour: Lansing
Emily Row is the Director of Communications at Taste the Local Difference. Contact her at [email protected]